Assignment1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Assignment1 - Essay Example Rarely do authors and instructors address the social perceptions of women in leadership roles; the general feeling is that there simply isn’t a problem to be addressed. Just follow the instructions (be assertive, state your mind, take the lead, expect people to follow you, search for common ground among disagreeing parties, etc.) and anyone, man or woman, can become a leader. Unfortunately, following the instructions in the real world brings women right up against gender bias. It is indeed difficult to determine the extent of the problem, or even if there is a problem. Rhode puts it succinctly, â€Å"Gender inequalities in leadership are pervasive; perceptions of inequality are not† (6). When looked at from the outside, especially with feminist eyes, gender bias is obvious and evidence-based. From the inside, for women and men doing their jobs, a snide comment can be overlooked, or the justification for being passed over for a promotion sounds reasonable, or raising the kids really is more important than the corner office. There are several root causes for overt or covert gender bias. Stereotyping plays a significant role. Lack of mentoring and support from female leaders stymies a woman seeking a more prominent position, because if she imitates a male mentor, she might be stereotyped as being aggressive. Workplace structures, entrenched for centuries, still encourage women to make their place in the home and family a top priority. Unequal opportunities lead to more unequal opportunities. A dichotomy emerges during the balancing act between the idea that gender should not matter when it comes time for promotions, and the fact that â€Å"gender differences do make some difference, and they need to be registered in leadership positions† (18). It shouldn’t matter when it shouldn’t matter, but it should when it should. During her